Leon's red guitars

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 27 Jun 2015 4:11 pm

I've seen some detailed pictures of Leon McAuliffe's cimarron red quad Stringmaster and noticed the picture on the cover of Stars Of The Steel guitar where he appears to be playing a red Custom T8 or maybe a Dual Pro. Was this a refinish or a custom order from Fender, I wonder?

I wonder what happened to it? I didn't realise he had more than one red guitar.

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 28 Jun 2015 5:18 am

The Quad Fender Red , is owned by a guitar collector in the Tulsa Oklahoma Area (Sand Springs).
He Brings it out for display now and then.

Some where on the Forum -- recently associated with 2015 Tulsa Steel Show -- is a photo with Rose Sinclair and the owner and a few other folks playing that Steel Guitar.

No other knowledge of the other steels you are asking about.

Pretty cool photo of that Steel Recording. I've met most of those players.

For those who don't know -- Pete Drake played on the Bob Dylan records such as Lay Lady Lay and many others.

Walter Haynes came out several times to play and talk steel when I attended the Jeffran Steel College in 1980 Nashville.

Rose Sinclair · Post by **Rose Sinclair** » 29 Dec 2015 6:55 pm

Larry Schaeffer, former longtime owner of Cain's Ballroom, brought Leon's quad to the 2015 Tulsa steel show and Herb Steiner and I helped tune it up.
The underside was routed out to make it lighter -- who knew? This was definitely a steel geek moment!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 29 Dec 2015 7:22 pm

Nice pictures, Rose! I remember hearing about Leon's routed out quad, but seeing the pictures is an eye-opener!

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 29 Dec 2015 10:02 pm

I was stationed at Fort Chaffee Arkansas in the first half of 1963. One Sunday afternoon Leon brought his band, from Tulsa, to our service club for a free 3 hour concert. Bob Kyser was his lead guitar player. I believe he had 3 fiddle players, but I don't recall their names. In those days I didn't own a camera.

Roger

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 30 Dec 2015 2:37 am

Why am I not surprised that Larry bought the quad?
Nice photo, Rose, thanks for the memory. That is a substantial guitar.

Joe Elk · Post by **Joe Elk** » 30 Dec 2015 7:35 am

I would be interested in what folks think in terms of if it affected tone? Seems to be a lot of left and lot of wood removed.

Rose Sinclair · Post by **Rose Sinclair** » 30 Dec 2015 9:30 am

I wondered about the tone factor, too, Joe, but obviously it didn't bother Leon!

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 30 Dec 2015 9:47 am

Rose Sinclair wrote:I wondered about the tone factor, too, Joe, but obviously it didn't bother Leon!

Of course, it wouldn't matter much if a guitar had the best tone in the world if you felt out was too heavy to lug to a gig or recording studio.

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 30 Dec 2015 2:57 pm

It's not the only Quad he had routed like that. There was one sold on Ebay a while back:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350901705421

I heard him describe his Quad as a widowmaker. He seriously disliked lugging it from show to show. Anything to make it lighter. He was Leon, so I forgive him.

Rose Sinclair · Post by **Rose Sinclair** » 30 Dec 2015 9:26 pm

Oh my - thanks for posting that ebay link -- wow.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 31 Dec 2015 4:15 am

I once had to lug my Fender triple through three airport terminals. By the end, I felt like I was carrying a piano! I can totally understand why Leon would look to reduce its weight. I would bet that if you recorded before and after sound of that guitar you'd not be able to tell the difference.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 31 Dec 2015 11:14 am

I can understand why he routed out the underside. Leon was a player, not a collector. I've taken my quad out on a few gigs, but it's a major pain in the @$$ to haul and set up. I have to allow extra time to load, unload, set up, tune, etc. The last time I took it out on a gig was 12 years ago! That was my earlier quad. The one I have now I've never taken out. I'm getting too old to haul heavy gear.